Selective travel draft gear



Jam 16, gdm. `D, F. SPHQUL ELSIBE SELECTIVE TRAVEL DRAFT GEAR Filed Jan. 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l N 7/// mm f/ w@ NW w .mln mw wh mmv WN A 5. m QN@ W QN www www Nm 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. F. SPROUIL.

SELECTIVE TRAVEL DRAFT GEAR Filed Jan. 14, 1937 Wh hh 3%., MW

Jan., 16,1194

Jan. 16, 1940. D. F. SPROUL,

SELECTIVE TRAVEL DRAFT GEAR Filed'Jan. 14, 41937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NGN wb, Nh WIN .WN

@N NGN. @mv NMMQ W@ N@ mm lil Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,187,333 sELEcTlvE TRAVEL DRAFT GEAR `Donald F. Sproul, Chicago, Ill., assignor `to Cardwell-Westinghouse Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January i4, 1937, serial No. 120,565

10 Claims.

This invention relates to draft gear and more particularly to the friction type of gear.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved gear having a greater travel on buff than on pull or draft.

Another object of the invention is the provisich of a new and improved gear that has a novel arrangement of friction surfaces together with a selective travel arrangement for the friction members.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved draft gear that is simple in construction, easily assembled, efficient in use, inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy in construction and one that is not likely to break, distort or get out of order. i

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. i is a plan view of a portion of a 'railway car showing the invention in position therein, with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3--3 of Fig; 4;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through aportion of the car showing `the invention in position thereon, the central portion of the gear being in horizontal section and thefront and rear ends thereof on lines 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 4 with the front end of the gear being on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, for the sake of clearness in illustration;

Fig. 6 is an exploded View of the wedging mechanisin at 'the front end of the gear;

Fig. '7 is a similar View of the wedging'mechaism at the rear end of the gear;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the central follower plate;`

Fig. 9 is a plan View of one of the spring followers; and

Fig. 10 is a plan View of one of the wedge members.

In the operation ofdraft gears, the shocks, due to buff, are much more violent than those due to draft or pull. It is therefore desirablethat the cushioning mechanism have a greater travel during buff than during pull so that the proper spring arrangement for accomplishing this function may be provided.

i In such constructions, it is necessary that the draft yoke be so positioned that it will not ex- (ol. 21e-32) travel is 11/2 inches on draft and 31/2 inches on buff. Ihe present gear is designed tov be positioned in. the conventional draft gear pocket and in order to provide for this added travel on` buff,

the yoke is positioned forwardly a relatively greater distance than when used on the'conventional gear, thereby providing a greater distance between the coupler horn and buffer casting.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference i.

character l llide'signates a portion cfa railway car underframe having the center sills l l and l2 between which the gear, represented generally by the reference character I3, is positioned. The

sills Il and l2 are provided with the usual draft lugs I4 and l5 and with the buffer lugs I6 and l1, all of which may be of the usual or wellknown construction. The gear I3, when in operating position, is in the conventional draft gear pocket between the draft and bufling lugs andis embraced by the draft yoke I which is of the usual or any well-known construction. The yoke is attached to the coupler butt 2i by a pin 2|', Fig. 1, in the conventional manner. .Since the details of the underframe construction, the arrangement of the yoke and coupler butt, constitute no part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same. i

The draft gear construction will now be described. The gear i3 comprises a casing 22 having an enlarged chamber'l in its inner or rear end, Fig. 4, and a reduced chamber 24 in its outer or forward end. The Walls of the casing are angular in cross-section and are provided with an upper flat surface 25 and a lower flat surface 26, Figs. 2 and 3. The arrangement of the walls of the enlarged chamber 23 is slightly diiferentfrom those ofthe chamber Z4 due to the difference in size of the two chambers. the exterior surfaces of the casing are provided with angular walls between the upper and lower surfaces 25 and 26 as shown at 21 and 28. The inner surfaces of the chamber 23 are also ar-` ranged at an angle `to each other and are provided with the upper and lower parallel surfaces 29 and 3l,` respectively, and between these surfaces are the angularly arranged surfaces 32, 33, 3d and 35 at one side of the center line of the gear and by the surfaces as, 31, as and 3s at In bOth, 4

the other side thereof, Fig. 3. The inner surfaces of the reduced chamber 24 are also angularly arranged. As shown, they form a regular octagon as at 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45, 4E, 4l and 48. The exterior surface of the gear may be provided with suitable reinforcing ribs or anges and eX- tensions 28, 38 and 30', as shown more clearly in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Suitable friction mechanism is mounted in each of the chambers 23 and 24. This mecha* nism is separated by a follower plate or abutment member 48 which seats against a ledge or shoulder 49 between the two chambers. A plurality of sets of springs 5I are seated against the follower plate 48 and engage a follower member 52 at their inner or rear ends.

In the form of the construction selected to ilf lustrate one embodiment of the invention, four sets of these springs are employed, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each set comprises one or more springs, as desired. In the form shown, three springs 53, 54 and 55, concentrically arranged, are employed for each set. The follower member or spring follower 52, may, if desired, be provided with projections 56 about which the inner springs 55 engage for positioning the same.

The following member 52 is provided with four inclined wedging faces 51, 58, 59 and 6|, Fig. 9, which are adapted to be engaged by four corresponding wedging faces 40 of the four wedge blocks 52, 63, 54 and 65, respectively. The Wedging blocks 62, 63, 64 and 65, each have their outer surfaces provided with angular friction or wedging faces 66 and 61, Fig. 7, for engaging the corresponding angular surfaces on the walls of the chamber 23. That is, each block has its angularly arrangedfriction surfaces @6 and 61 engaging two faces of the inner walls of the casing, Fig, 3, or rather they engage friction plates on those walls as will presently appear. Preferably, the walls of the chamber 23 that are engaged by the wedging blocks are provided with hardened, wearing, friction plates 68, 69, 'H and l2, see Figs. 3 and 4. Each plate has a plurality of friction faces. In the form shown, each plate has two of these friction faces angularly arranged. These plates are secured in any suitable manner as by providing a recess in the walls of the chamber for receiving the same, as shown at 'i3 in Figs. 3 and 4.

'I'he inner side faces of the friction blocks 82, 63, 64 and 65 are each provided with flat inclined faces 14, which are adapted to engage corresponding wedge faces l5 on a wedge or thrust element l5. The wedge element i6 is provided on its inner side with an offset or depressed portion Tl which is adapted to be en- Agaged by the yoke I8, Fig. 4. This offset posi tions the yoke forwardly for compensating for the difference in movement between friction members during pull and draft as will presently appear. The casing is recessed or forwardly offset at the central portion of its inner end as at 10, Figs. l and 4, for accommodating the forward movement of the yoke i8.

It will thus be seen that the follower member 52 and the wedge or thrust element 'I6 are each provided with four wedge faces that are engaged by corresponding flat wedge faces on the four wedge members 52, 63, 64 and 65. It will also be seen that each wedge member has two friction faces 66 and 61 for engaging a wear plate on the casing.

In the operation of the device under draft, the

yoke I8 engaging the wedge or thrust member 16 will move the same forwardly into engagement with the wedge blocks 82, 63, 64 and 65, thus forcing these blocks forwardly against the corresponding wedging surfaces of the follower member 52 against the compression of the four sets of springs 5l. The wedging surfaces on the Wedge member 'l5 and follower 52 will tend to force the wedge blocks outwardly into frictional engagement with the angular walls of the chamber 23. the forwardly offset portion 'I8 of the end of the casing will limit the forward movement of the yoke.

The Wedging element l5 is provided with a pair of depressions 19, each of which is provided with an axial opening through which a bolt 8l extends. The bolts 8l also extend through the follower plate 48 and have nuts threaded thereon which seat in the depressions 19, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. These bolts limit the expansion of the sets of springs 5|.

The forward end of the gear is also provided with friction mechanism which is mounted in the restricted chamber 24. This mechanism comprises a spring follower 82 which is provided on its forward side with a plurality of inclined wedging faces 83. Each of the wedging faces 83 is adapted to be engaged by the corresponding wedging face of a wedge block B4. In the form of the construction shown, the spring follower has four faces. There are also four of the wedging blocks 84, each of which has a pair of wedging faces 85, 35 on its inner surface and an angular wedging face 8l on its outer surface. The wedging faces 85 of the wedge blocks 84 are adapted to engage the four corresponding nat inclined wedging faces 83 of the spring follower 82, see Figs. 4 and 6. The other at face 85 of the wedge blocks 84 is adapted to engage a corresponding wedge face 89 of a wedge element 9i. The outer or angular faces 8l of the wedge blocks 94 are adapted to engage the corresponding angular faces 92 of the friction plates 93 secured on the inner walls of the forward portion of the chamber 24, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings- The forward end of the casing is rectangular and has a vertical recess or slot 94 through its top and bottom walls in which is mounted a follower 95. Preferably, though not necessarily, the wedge element 9i is provided with a forward extension 96 which is adapted to engage a corresponding recess 91 in the follower member 95 for positioning the follower element. The forward wall of the recess 94 is preferably inclined as at 98 and the follower member 95 has its outer forward surface correspondingly inclined as at 99 in order to avoid breakage of the casing. These inclined walls will also tend to center the follower member as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 4.

The inner surfaces of the casing at each end thereof may be slightly tapered toward the central portion of the gear, if desired, whereby the wedging mechanism is more readily set up and the release easier and more prompt on release of the gear.

It is believed to be apparent that the friction plates 92, 68, 59, 'H and 'l2 could be dispensed with but they are preferably employed for the reason that the friction surfaces may be more easily hardened and prepared than could the inner surface of the casing and for the further The engagement of the yoke I8 with reason that when they become worn, they may be discarded and replaced by others. l

Suitable means 'are provided for resiliently resisting the inward movement of the spring follower il?. In the form of `'the construction shown, a plurality'of concentrically arranged springs are employed for this purpose. As shown, outer and intermediate springs |00, lill, are inserted in the chamber .724 between the follower plate 48 and the spring follower d2, and an inner spring Hit is inserted betweenthe` plate 48 and an inner axial projection |05 on the Wedge element 9|. A rod |03, extending through the spring H32, the spring follower 82 and the follower plate 48, and engaging the wedge member BLlimits the outward movement of said wedge member.

In the operation of the device, upon pull, the parts within the `chamber 23 loperate as already described while the friction mechanism within the chamber 24 is not affected. The limit of movement of the `gear during pull is` determined by the distance between the yoke I3 and the end "Iii of the gear casing as at TU. Upon buff, the coupler butt 2| will force the follower element 95 rearwardly `againstthe compression of all of the springs. This movement will cause a wedging action of both sets of Wedges and the limit of movement will be the distance between the lugs I6 ,and Il and the inner end of the casing, plus the distance between the rear end of the follower element '95 and the shoulder |04 formed` by the recess 94. It will thus be seen that on buff, the movement is much greater than on pull and this without permitting an undue forward movement of the coupler butt 2| during pull.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my 'device will be apparent to those skilled in the art and that changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a draft gear, a casing having at each end theroef a plurality of angularly arranged friction surfaces arranged in pairs, a friction shoe for each pair of surfaces, each shoe having angularly arranged friction faces for engaging a pair of said surfaces, each of said shoes having an inner friction face and an outer friction face,

an inner and an outer wedge member engaging' the inner and outer friction faces, respectively, of said shoes, two sets of springs for restoring the shoes and wedge members to normal position after release, all of said springs being compressed from theirforward ends upon buff, and means including a partition between said sets of springs, movable within said casing and engaging shoulders therein for limiting the compression of said gear to a greater extent in one direction than in another.

2. In a draft gear, a casing, a set of friction elements at each end of said casing, said friction elements at the rear end of said casing compris- .ing a thrust member having its rear end provided with a forwardly offset portion for receiving a draft yoke thereon, a set of spring means for each set of friction elements between said sets of elements, a partition movable relative to said casing between said sets of spring means, and means for limiting the forward movement of said partition whereby on pull only one set of spring means will be compressed and on buff both sets will be compressed.

3. In a draft gear, a casing, aset of cooperating friction elements at each end of said casing, vresilient members between said sets of elements, said resilient members comprising groups of springs arranged in tandem, means for causing said 4groups to operate inntandem and Yloe com` fl. In a draft gear, a casing, a set of friction shoes at each end of said casing, two sets of springs between said sets of shoes for resisting the inward movement thereof, said sets being separated by a partition movable towar-d the rear end of said gear relative to said casing from its normal position, means for limiting the forward movement of said ypartition beyond its normal inoperative position on draft, wedge members engaging said shoes, and means for limiting the compression of the gear.

5. In a draft gear, a casing, a set of friction shoes at each end of said casing, two sets of springs between said sets of shoes for resisting the inward movement thereof, a partition between said sets of springs movable along said casing toward the rear end of said gear, means for limiting the forward movement of said partition beyond a predetermined position, wedge members engaging said shoes, and means for limiting the movement of the gear to a less travel surface at one end octagonal in cross-section and octolateral at the other, friction shoes at each end of said casing, each shoe having two surfaces engaging two adjacent friction surfaces on said casing, Wedging members engaging said shoes for forcing the same outwardly along the bisector of the angles formed by the friction faces of said casing, means, including a plurality of springs, for resiliently resisting the movement of said shoes longitudinally of the gear upon compression thereof during buit, a member engaging the forward ends of certain of said springs and the rear ends of the remainder of said springs and movable rearwardly from normal inoperative position, and shoulders for limiting the forward movement of said member beyond its normal inoperative position whereby all of said springs are compressed from the forward ends during buff and only certain of said springs are active during draft.

7. In a draft gear, an open ended casing, one end of said casing having a recess in its opposite walls forming shoulders, a follower movably mounted in the recess and limited in its inner movement by said shoulders, said follower having a projection extending outwardly beyond the end of said casing, friction shoes engaging friction surfaces on said casing, wedge means engaging said shoes and follower, springs means for resisting the inward movement of said shoes, a second set of friction shoes for frictionally engaging friction surfaces on said casing, wedging member engaging said shoes, said last-named wedging member having an inward offset seat for receiving the rear end of a draft yoke while said gear is in use, spring means for resisting the inward movement of said last-named wedge member, and means engaging the inner end of Cil said spring means and constituting an abutment therefor, said casing having recesses in its walls at the end opposite said first-named recess for constituting a stop for the forward movement of said yoke whereby when said gear is in use, said yoke will have a greater movement on buff than upon pull,

8. In a draft gear, a hollow casing having its interior angular in cross-section at each end, said casing being separated into two chambers of different sizes in cross-section forming a ledge between said chambers, a spring follower seated on said ledge and movable along said casing toward the rear thereof, wedging and friction mechanism at each end of said casing, a set of springs between each of said mechanisms and said spring follower, whereby when said gear is compressed from one end, one set only of said springs will be compressed and when it is compressed from the other end, both sets of springs will be compressed, and means for limiting the lcompressive movement of the said first-named set of springs to a less distance than that of the both sets of springs.

9. in a draft'gear, an open ended casing adapted to be embraced by a draft yoke while in use, one end of said casing having a recess in its opposite walls forming a shoulder, a follower inovably mounted in the recess and limited in its inner movement by said shoulder, said follower having a projection extending outwardly beyond the end of said casing, friction shoes engaging friction surfaces on one end of said casing, wedging means engaging said follower and shoes for forcing said shoes into frictional engagement with said casing, a set of springs for resisting the inward movement of said shoes, friction shoes engaging friction surfaces on the other end of said casing, wedging means engaging said lastnamed shoes and extending outwardly beyond the adjacent end of said casing, a second set of springs for resisting the inward movement of said last-named shoes, ledge means on the interior of said casing, abutment means between said sets of springs normally seated against said ledge means and movable along said casing away from said ledge means toward said last-named set of springs upon applying a buiing force to said gear but limited yby said ledge means in its movement toward said first-named set of springs upon applying a pulling force to said gear, and means including a seat on the inner end of said teasing adapted to be engaged by said yoke for limiting the compression of all of said springs and preventing them from going solid upon compression of said gear on buff when said gear is in use.

` 10. In a railway car, a pair of center sills having draft and buffer lugs thereon, a draft gear open at both ends positioned between said draft and buffer lugs between said sills, said gear comprising a casing having its forward end seated iagainst said draft lugs and its rear end spaced from said buffer lugs, a plurality of friction shoes ain the rear end of said casing frictionally engaging the same, a thrust member having inclined u faces engaging said shoes, means including a set of springs for resisting the inward movement of ,said shoes upon compression of the gear, a plurality of friction shoes engaging the interior surface of the forward end of said casing, means including springs for resisting the inward movement of wedges, a partition between said sets of springs and movable in one direction longitudinally of said casing, said casing having shoulders for limiting the forward movement of said parti-' tion, a thrust wedge member engaging said lastm named shoes, a follower engaging said secondi'lamed thrust wedge member, the forward end of said casing being provided with shoulders for engaging said follower for limiting the rearward movement of said follower relative to said casing on buff, whereby on severe bung force ,"said follower will engage said shoulders and said casing will engage said buffer lugs for limiting lthe compression of said gear.

DONALD F. SPROUL.

GERTIFlCATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,187,555-v January l6,` l9hrO.

DONALD F. SPROU'D.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 28,' for the word "following" readfollower; page 5, first column', line h5', claim l, for "theroef" read thereof; line 66, claim 7, for springs" read spring; line`69, same `claim, `before. wedging insert a; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the reoord of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this llthlay of March, A, D. lQiO.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

